Album Review

Best known as Further Seems Forever's second singer, Jason Gleason is back with a new band, ActionReaction, and some of the best music thus far in his career. If only more indie rock sounded this garden fresh. Rounded out by ex-members of Element 101 (Salvatore Ciaravino and Bella), the trio's debut full-length, 3 is the Magic Number, is the work of a self-assured crew that knows exactly what it wants and how to accomplish it skillfully. Listeners are left with one treat of an album as the group incorporates basic indie rock with subtle touches of funk here, country twangs there, and even sporadic dance-y flairs that separate ActionReaction from the pack without forcing them into any one of those specific genres. It's not like ActionReaction is purposely trying to be eclectic, since really, their songs are pretty straightforward rock affairs that never approach complete randomness. Everything is simply melded together so cohesively and with a certain soulfulness and understated quality to them that the band's brand of rock is unique without them having to go crazy to achieve such an identity. Gleason's expressive vocal chords sound stronger than ever, emitting a dignified confidence in every note that can be felt firmly throughout the entire record's run. This is plainly displayed on one of the album's best tracks, "With My Voice," a song that begins with a haunting elegance, Gleason moving effortlessly among the rising and falling music, instruments and vocals ultimately swelling together into each of the track's gleaming, urgent choruses. With such poise evident in ActionReaction's sound, it's pretty impressive that this album is just its first, even considering its members are already seasoned musicians. Using these 11 tracks as an indicator, three really is the magic number — when Jason, Sal and Bella combine forces, the results are pretty fantastic.

Biography

Formed: New Jersey

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '00s

Upon leaving emocore act Further Seems Forever in 2004, frontman Jason Gleason — who had also previously spent time in the hardcore ranks of Affinity — relocated from Florida to New Jersey to join up with his longtime friend Bella, formerly of Element 101. They worked construction by day together in a crew that also included another Element vet, Salvatore Ciaravino. With a rotating cast of friends, the three soon began jamming at night, drawing from a melting pot of influences like Sunny...